Starting device for explosive-engines.



' No. 832,566. PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906.

G. E. WISNER.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEIT. 18, 190-3.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

e c) B d O. G

l 7 .7 O G PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906.

G. E. WISNER. STARTING DEVICE FOR BXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.18. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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lJ-JIARLES E. WISNER, OF DETROIT, MlUlllGAN.

SQ =ARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-=ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

Application filed September 18,1905. Serial No. 278,887.

Torill whom it 72mg concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. WISNER, a I citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starting Devices for Explosive-Engines; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to starting devices for explosive-engines or the like; and its object is to provide means whereby an engine may receive its initial impulse without the necessity of rotating the crank-shaft manually; and its novelty consists in the peculiar arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device as it appears attached to the balance-wheel of an engine. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the clutch-ring, spring, and loose sleeve in position in balance-wheel. Fig. 3 is a section on line a w of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail, partly in section, showing means for holding the clutch-ring from rotation while the spring is wound, and the method of releasing said clutch-ring. Fig. 5 is a detail view in sectional plan. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the ratchet and pawls which prevent the spring from unwinding at the center.

Similar letters, refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the shaft of an engine, the cylinder being partially indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Bis the balance-wheel keyed to the shaft A.

C is a steel ring fastened to the balance- Wheel which forms a bearing-surface for the rollers d, that are held in )ockets (Z in the face of the clutch-ring D. 'l he clutch-ring D is held concentric with the steel ring C by a plate D, that has a bearing on the shaft A.

A A coiled spring E has its outer end attached to the clutch-ring D and its inner end attached to the looseisleeve F. This loose sleeve F forms onegnember of the winding-clutch and is held from rotation in one direction by the awls f and ratchet f (Shown in Fig. 6.) he pawls f are held in pockets f in the stationary plate G, which 15 held in close proximity to the balance-wheel B by bolts through which rid es in a groove in the clutch which is splmed on llHSllitfl). Consequen'- c un mentof the lever H toward or away it i he The lever II is" shaft will throw the clutch into or out or vugagement with the corresponding clutch F. The lower end of the lever H rides in a slot provided on the face of the plate G, and at its extreme end is attached a spring h, prevent ing movement in one direction except by a c strain of greater force.

The s ring it is attached to a traveling nut V h and y turning bolt 71. the tension of the spring ha is adjusted, thus enabling the opera- ,tor to regulate the tension of the spring 1*).

An operating-lever K is supported in suil': able bearings on the plate G and is provided with a cam is and pawl 7c and spring A? to re turn the lever to original position after being Operated.

To more clearly comprehend the intorrclation of parts as enumerated above, let us suppose that the spring E is wound up. The ring D, to which the spring is attached, is held from rotation by the pawl h, pivoted to the lever H. Consequently the strain of the spring :E is transmitted to the lever H and swings the lever toward the shaft, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The spring its is attached to the lever H nearly ten times as far from the pivoth as the pawl 7i Therefore the tension on spring E must be ten or more times the tension of the spring 7L3 before the lever H can move and operate the clutch J, which is attached to it by means of lever I holding clutch J out of en agcment with clutch F.

The pawl 7c is oosc on rod K and isprovidcd with a spring at one extremity tending to hold the notched end it in the path of travel of the lug 71 on the lover H. A collar k is keyed to the rod'and is provided with a notch or step corresponding to a like step on the pawl 7c. To start the engine, it is necessary to turn the handle of the rod K. The cam 7c then engages the end of pawl h and .disengagesit with the ratchet d on the clutch-ring D, thus allowing the full tension of the spring E t act ori 'the ial'ance-wheel B by means of the rollers d. This rotation draws a charge into the cylinder of the engine, compresses it, and explodes in the usual manner, and the engine begins to rad.

Upon releasing the-lever K the pawlf h, first drops into place and a little farther movement of the lever forces the notched. end

k of the pawl Zcout of engagement with-1li1g The lever H is thenfdra wn the spring 7L3 and turnsle nd forces the clutch J, which" h on lever H. back by action of ver 1 on pivot i a is keyed to the shaft, into engagement withthe clutch F, to which the inner end of the spring is attached. As theen ine is now running, this engagement of the c utch'begins to rewind the spring until sufficient tension is acquired to overcome the tension of spring 7f when the clutch is. thrown out and the apparatus is again in position to start the engine.

What T claim 1s 1. In a starting device for explosive-engines, the combination with the balancewheel and shaft, of a clutch-ring supported within the balance-wheel, said clutch-ring bein rovided with means iorautomatically clutc mg said balance-wheel, a spring within saidclritch-ring and attached to it, a loose sleeve on the shaft, attached to the spring and provided with a ratchet, a stationary plate contiguous to the balahce-wheel and covering the-side thereof, pawls held in said stationary plate and adapted to engage the ratchet on the loose sleeve, means on the shaft for winding the spring; a controllinglever pivoted at one end to said stationary plate and provided with a spring on the opposite end adap ted to swing the controlling-laver in one direction, means intermediate the clutch-ring and controlling-lever whereby the strain of thewound spring tends to swing the controllinglever in one direction, means whereby the movement of the controlling-lever throws the means for winding the spring intoor out of engagement, and an operatinglever attached to the stationary plate and rovided with means whereby the"control-' ing the side thereof, pawls-held in the stationmy plate and adapted to engage the ratchet .by the loose sleeve fsh'aft, a"controlling-lever pivoted to the stationary plate and trolling-lever swing the controllin on the loose sleeve, meanseh theshaft wheremaybe rotated withsaid provided with a spring at one end adapted to swingthe controlling-lever in one direction, means intermediate the clutch-ring and controllinglever whereby the tension of the spring attached to the clutch-ring, when'wound, tends to swing conin theg-oppositerdirection and thereby" release said' i fieans for rotating the loose sleeve and an dperating lever attached tothe sta on'ary ,plat'e' and provided with haoundjspring is released from it, substam tiallyas shown and escribed,

3. In a starting V vice "for explosive en gines the combinationvwitm'the --balance'- balance-wheel,- adapted to clutch said balance-wheel when free 'to' rotate, a coiled wheel and shaft, of s clutch-ring within-the .jrneans whereby the controlling-lever is held frsm movement at thetime the tensionofthe spring within said clutch-ring haying its outer end attached to it, a loosesleeve' on the shaft having theinner-end of said i'coiled spring'attached to it, and being royidedwith a ratchet and with means where 'y'it-maybe-rotated in tion'ary plate adapte {to engage the ratchet in the loose sleeve, a cd .to the stationary plate and provided with means whereby the clutch-ring may beheld from rotation, means on the shaft for rota'ting the loose sleeve in one direction, means whereby the movement of "the controlling-lever throws the means for rotating the loose sleeve into or out of engagement, with said sleeve, and. an operatinglever attached to the stationary plate and provided with means for releasing the clutch-ringand holding the con trolling-lever from movement duringthe time the clutch-ring 'is released,- substantially as shown and described.

4. In a starting device for explosive-en gines, the combination with the balancewheel andshaft, of a clutch-ring supported ntrollinglever pivoted one direction, a stationl'aryplate contiguous to v the balance-wheel, pa l's' attached to the stawithin the balance-wheel, said clutch-ring bein provided with means for automatically clutching said balance-wheel when free to rotate, a coiled spring within said clutch-ring v and attached to it, a loose sleeve on the shaft, attached to the coiled spring and provided with a ratchet, a stationary plate, contiguous to the balance-wheel and covering the side thereoflpawls held in said stationary plate and adapted to engage the ratchet on the loose sleeve, means on the shaft for winding the spring, a controlling-lever pivoted at one end 'to said stationary plate and rovided r so with a spring on the o posite end a apted to ever in one direction, said spring being provided with means for regulating its tension, means lntermedlate the clutch-ring and the controlling-lever whereby the strain of the wound spring tends released from it, substantially as shown and 10 to swing the controlling-lever in one direcdescribed. v

tion, means whereby the movement of the- In testimony whereof I Sign this pe ifi acontilglolling-lever throws thfe means for wind; tion in the presence of two witnesses.

mg 1; e spring into or out o engagement, an

an operating-lever attached to the stationary CHARLES WISNER' plate and provided with means whereby the Witnesses: l

controlling-lever is held from movement at GEO. S. FIELD,

the time the tension of the wound spring is STANTON CLARKE. 

